quirin



Jan. 31, 1956 E. J. QUIRIN 2,732,318

SECTION/XL FLOATING DRY DOCK AND COUPLING MEANS THEREFOR Filed Sept. 8, 1953 5 Sheets-Sheet l IIIEIEISIEIEI INVENTOR. EDWARD J. QuiRiN Y E .0 #MFJW ATTORNEY Jan. 31, 1956 E. J. QUlRlN 2,732,818

SECTIONAL FLOATING DRY DOCK AND COUPLING MEANS THEREFOR Filed Sept. 8, 1953 3 Shets-Sheet 3 12 I H I" "W W-:- swim in" F FM!" M I; 2 I332 [H i 'r pg: m mm W ogol INVENTOR. l5 13 i 1, EDWARD J. QU|R;N

2 E BY OHZDRQ l 38 55 E- J. QUlRlN Jan. 31, 1956 SECTIONAL FLOATING DRY DOCK AND COUPLING MEANS THEREFOR 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Sept. 8, 1953 z zyzo.

INVENTOR. EDWARD IQuimN nited States Patent "ce SECTIONAL FLOATING DRY DOCK AND COUPLING MEANS THEREFGR Edward J. Quirin, Great Neck, N. Y., assiguor to Frederic R. Harris, Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application September 8, 1953', Serial No. 378,770 2 Claims. (Cl. 114-45 7 This invention is an improved floating dry dock, par ticularly a floating dry dock made of transverse sections having pontoon hulls and side walls secured together end to end to produce a complete floating dry dock for receiving and raising large ships.

An important object of my invention is to provide connecting devices by which the component sections of a floating dry dock can be readily united to one another to form a finished dock rigid throughout and fully capable of practical use; and of being quickly and easily taken apart for removalto another location and there reassembled for continued service.

A further object is to provide'a floating dry dock built of sections that carry coupling members extending across opposing end faces of the side walls thereof; along I vertical lines adjacent the inboard andoutboard faces of the side Walls of the sections; and crosswise on the adjacent end faces of the sections near the pontoon deck of each; said members being adjustable so that the sections can be tightly joined together for effectively resist- .ing all stresses and bending movements in both horizontal and vertical directions.

'Another object is to provide a floating dry dock made of assembled sections with stout and durable coupling members that can be easily manipulated with ordinary tools to connect the sections or disconnect one or more when inspection or repair is needed, or for trans'shipment of the dock from one place to another.

Other objects of the invention and the advantages and an embodiment thereof are fully and clearly set forth herein and the characteristics are pointed out in the claims. The drawings illustrate a preferred construction of my improved dock, but variations may be adopted in many respects without deviation from the essential arrangement or material change in the combination of parts by which my invention is distinguished.

On the drawings:

Figure 1 is an isometric view of a dock comprising assembled sections.

. Figure 2 is a side elevation showing a pair of sections completely coupled.

Figure 3 is an elevation of part of the end of the section at the right of Figure 1 showing coupling members in position thereon, seen from the left of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a similar elevation of part of the end of the section at the left in Figure 2, showing coupling members aflixed thereto, seen from the right of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a top plan view showing the arrangement of coupling members at the upper ends of the walls of adjacent sections.

Figure 6 indicates in top plan parts of two connected sections showing coupling members, between the end faces of the side walls thereof and below the tops, at about the level of the line 66 in Figure 4.

t Figure 7 shows in top plan the horizontal coupling members running from-the walls towards the middle, and disposed below the main deck of the dock.

- Figure 8 is a side elevation on an enlarged scale of 2,732,818 Patented Jan. 31, 1956 2. the arrangement of vertical coupling members between the end walls of adjacent sections.

Figures 9 and 10 are respectively a section and a top view of a universal joint for the ends of the coupling members.

Figure 11 is a top plan showing how the couplings are mounted and made fast between the sections of the dock; and

Figure 12 is an end view of the parts illustrated in Figure 11, partly in section on line 12-12 in Figure 4.

As illustrated in Figure 1, the dock has the usual configuration with pontoon hull bearing the main or pontoon deck and side or wing walls along the sides of the hull. The'sections, each indicated by the letter S, when assembled lie in transverse positions; each having a hull 1 and side walls 2. The sections are placed end to end so that the hulls thereof form the pontoon hull H of the whole dock extending along the full length thereof, and the walls 2 of the several sections are all in alignment and form the wing walls W along the full length of the sides of the dock. See Figure l. 7

Each section has a hull with a main deck 3 and a bottom 4, the decks 3 being all at the same level to form the main or pontoons deck D of the dock when the sections are joined together. In the walls 2 of each section the level of the safety decks near the tops supporting the machinery for the section is indicated at 5, and in the hull 1 and walls 2 of each section below the decks 5 are bulkheads (not shown) for dividing the interior into flooding and buoyancy compartments. Each section has its own pumps, conduits and valves for admitting and expelling water when the dock is to be sunk and raised. The equipment and arrangement of bulkheads are not part of the invention.

' For getting and holding the sections in proper position for coupling, interfitting guide members are mounted at the same level on the opposing end faces of the sections. These members each include projecting round members 6 or pintles and gudgeons or members 7 with round sockets to receive the pintles. The gudgeons are mounted on the end face of one section and, the pintles on the opposing end face of a section next to it. With these members in engagement the walls 2 are kept in alignment and the decks 3 are maintained at the same level while the coupling operation is performed. Preferably the guide members are located one on each of the opposing end faces of the walls 2, at the level of the safety decks 5, and one on each of the opposing end faces of the bulls 1 at the middle thereof.

In the operation of assembling the dock, the sections are placed end to end. They extend transversely of the dock when finished and are moved so that the pintles 6 enter the gudgeons 7. They are joined together by horizontal rows of coupling members 8 extending between opposing ends near the top or upper decks 9 of the walls 2 and by horizontal rows of coupling members 10 of the same type between opposing ends and near the sides, below the level of the main or pontoon deck 3'. Also the sections are joined by inclined coupling members 11 extending up and down and being approximately in the planes of the inboard faces 12 and outboard faces 13 of the walls 2 below the safety decks 5 and between the decks 5 and tops or upper decks 9. The opposing ends of the sections are also joined by horizontally disposed coupling members 14 at the level of the main deck, and by horizontal coupling members 15 at the level of the safety decks 5. All these coupling members in cludeanchor pins and turn buckles extending in' the required direction from one section to ano'therQ "The a rangement is clearly shown on Figures 1 to 8 inclusive,

The coupling members 14 (Figures 3 and 4) uniting the sections below the main decks and between the inboard faces of the walls 2 are particularly useful in helping to keep the hulls of the sections improper alinement and preventing movement of said hulls in a direction tra s e to t e o p e y se b d ck; thi ducing stresses and strains across the side wallsfrorn the nb a o h u boa d face he wfn. my op n ns appli a on Serial 8 2 fi e Apr l. 11, 952', a

very similar sectional dock construction is' shown with the horizontal rows 8 and 10 of coupling members at the top and bottom of the walls and vertically arranged coupling members at the inboard and outboard facesof the walls; but the dock construction disclosed in said mpany n p c r ha no up n m m ers i the faces of the'hulls below the decks'an'd. between the nb ard f e f he wa s 2.-

Within the sections, the framing carrying the outer plating of the walls} is so formed at the tops that the opposing faces F at the 6f the walls 2 present shoulders 16 adjacent the edges of the upper decks 9. These H the heads 25, the ends of each turnbuckle with its heads 7 and rings 29 are held securely.

Above and below the level of the safety decks 5, the coupling members ll extend up and down at a slight in cline between opposing ends of the assembled sections. To enable the sections to be united further by the coupling members 11, the sectionsof the dock have pairs of parallel plates with each pair affixed to opposite sides of a stout lug or plate support 31. Reinforcing plates 32 may be affixed to the lugs 31 under the plates 30. These plates and lugs on the side Walls are vertical and mounted on all theopposing ends of adjacent sections, some at the inboard faces 12 of the walls 2 and some at the outward faces 13 thereof. For example, six pairs of such plates 30 are affixed in vertical groups of three each to one sections, and four pairs in vertical groups of two each are fixed to the opposing end of the other section. On the one section, the middle pairs are just below the level of the deck 5, and on the other section, theiupper two pairs are above and the other two. belowsaid d The upper, middle and lower plates on the one s are respectively in horizontal alineme'nt, and so are the 7 upper and lower plates'on the other section. the

bers 8 is attached to the opposing end faces of each pair of adjacent sections along these shoulders. 7

Below the level of the deck 3 the end faces F ofthe sections have elongated horizontal recesses 17, onesuch recess being at each side of a section near the bottom n h ds o h c pl n m mber 0 i t e er rows are held in each pair'of such opposing recesses 17. The separate coupling members 8 andv 10 comprise turn buckles, each having a central sleeve for tightening. Thick horizontal holding or anchor and reinforcing plates 18 are aflixed to the framing inside the sections and project out through the vertical portions of the opposing end faces F above the shoulders 16 and from the bottoms of the recesses 17, between the upper and lower edges thereof; and are perforatednear their outer edges.

Ly 3 members 11 inclined one direction and all the plates 30 on the ends of said sections are not at' the same level, instead said pairs of plates in the g foups o f two each on said other section, are in line with the spaces etween the pairs of plates o'n-the first section'faridthusa staggered arrangement of said plates is presented. The spaces between the plates 39 on sectionsare' large enough to be bridged by the coupling niemhersH. The two lower pairs ofplates- 30. at each side the opposing ends of adjacent sections are all joined" W pairs of plates" 30 are joined'by couplin g 'meinhers" 1nclined in the opposite direction; whilethe m'id'clle' pairs of plates 30 on the one section are connected to both the upper and lower pairs of plates" 30, on the other sejction bycoupling members 11. Eight coupling members,

These plates are in pairs, one above the other, and form bearing members for coupling pins 19 to attach the turn buckles 20 that connect the sections. The upper reinforcing plates 18 adjacent the shoulders 16. are preferb a the. top d s Q t i walls 2 a Each turnbuckle has a central sleeve 21, threaded inside, and a transverse hole therethrough 2 2'to be engaged by a tool. This sleeve receives the threaded shanks of bolts 23 having loops or apertures 24 at their outer ends. These apertures each receive a sphericalhead lfii'that has a bore through it for the passage of'the retaining pin 19. Shims 26 carried by the pins 19 adjacent the plates. 18 prevent-vertical motion of the turnhuckles. These: pins have heads 27 at their upper ends and apertures 28in their lower ends for cotters or other devices to prevent displacement. See Figures ll and 12. The sleeves; 21 can be turned to make the couplings taut. The turnhuckles coupling the sections between the shoulders 1.6

and between the recesses 1 .7, because ofl the heads-25, which constitute ball ioiptsat the-pins-or journals-19, can ,be; easily attached and .when :the sleeves are" tightened they adjust themselves as the sections are'pulledclose ,to one another. 7

To assemble the bolts 19-and heads 25, each head is seated. in a ring 29, madein two semicircular halves' that fit around the head 25. The inner faces of the h alvesare concave spherical surfaces'to' fit the head, "the outer s gsylia risa j @ad' fi in he ean .2 nii y He s? t Q ha es t the tin 22ers s inalr fitte. 6n he head aad h nan ass m gtf q anti r n ersse t i 3llh 19 r 4?? 49 end. sf es rm bu k When he p ns- 1? a e no passe h' usb la e -li an other pair-near the outboard four at the inboard faces 12 and? four at" the qurb ara faces 13, in the form of turn-buckles as above described are thus employed; and each group of 'four'runs' n 'zigzag vertical line between the two sections connected by them. Each pair of plates 39 has apertures'to reiceive the bolts or pins 19'and anchor the members to the adjacent sections of the deck. The lugs 31 assess to reinforcing plates 36 secured to the inboard and outboard faces of the walls 2. i

Horizontal couplingmembers 14 are utilizedto connect opposing faces of the sections between the walls 2 on each section, just below the level of the main decks" These niernber's'l lare located on Both sides of the loiigit'udinal center line of the dockin a" roupof foilheafch, but the number may ofcoui'se be var ed. J of each group make a' transverse zigzag lin" near the walls 2 and extending. towardsthe dock. These'members are aii'cho'red' te" d endsot the walls2' of the sections'ca'r p r of additional horizontal upper and lower plate 33 m'gthe same const'r'uctionarid mode of 'att-achin t as. theplates Q a r m 1. I l I di cn up e a l ws ma if that? fli sd' 9 e sing en s i thswal st. f a ja nt sestions, QQPUIQW e ly-a ther i dl cfth endsof. hes walls. guiding members 6 and 7' on the ends of the walls 2 are also at the level of the decks 5, and the plates 33 and 34 flank these guiding members. The adjacent corners of all these horizontal plates 33 and 34 are perforated so that turnbuckles 20 can be mounted to join each pair of horizontal plates 33 to the central horizontal plates 34. These plates 33 and 34 and turnbuckles make up the coupling members 15, a pair of which is between each two opposing end faces of the walls 2; and the coupling members 15 of each pair extend diagonally in opposite horizontal directions, the better to hold the upper parts of the walls 2 in position and resist lateral displacement.

Reinforcing plates 37 are secured to the outside of the hull along the chine for the row of coupling members 10, and additional reinforcing plates 38 are put inside the hull extending from the bottom up to the inner ends of each row of said horizontal coupling members.

The turnbuckles in the rows 8 and 10 resist the bending movement of the dock, and the turnbuckles of the members 11 resist the vertical sheer stresses. The rows 14 and 15 prevent sidewise movement of the sections of the dock, and all sections are thus connected with the utmost strength and rigidity.

To align the sections and enable the turnbuckles to be mounted and secured by the pins 19, the pintles 6 and gudgeons 7 are utilized. These are located on the sections at the middle of the end faces f of the hulls, which are continuous with the end faces F of the walls 2, and on the end faces F of the walls 2 at the level of the decks 5. The sections at the extremities of the dock have such members only on the end faces opposing the next adjacent sections, while the other sections have these members on both end faces. One end face, may carry only the pintles, and the opposing face of the next section may carry the gudgeons, or the sections may carry both kinds. In any event, each pintle 6 must be in line with the proper complementary gudgeon or socket 7. When the sections are first assembled, the pintles will enter the gudgeons and the sections will all be held in horizontal alignment and at the same level while the tunbuckles are attached.

In Figures 2, 3, 4 and 6, the positions of all the coupling members and the interengaging guide members are indicated. These figures show the arrangement of the coupling and guide members and present the faces or sides of the dock without any reference to the interior framework, which is not part of this invention. The pintles and gudgeons can be secured to the framework at the opposing ends of adjacent sections in any feasible way.

Figures 5 and 7 show only the arrangement of the upper and lower coupling members 8 and 10 respectively; the coupling members 11, pintles 6 and gudgeons 7 bein omitted for the sake of clearness.

Having described my invention, what I believe to be new 1s:

1. A floating dry dock having pontoon hull, main deck and wing walls, comprising assembled sections extending transversely of the complete dock, each section having a hull, main deck and walls forming parts of the hull, main deck and wing walls of the dock, respectively, and coupling members on the opposing faces of said sections for uniting said sections, some of said members in horizontal rows between the walls of the sections near the tops, some in horizontal rows between the sections near the bottoms, some in vertical rows between said last-named walls, and some in horizontal rows between the hulls of the sections near the decks thereof, said sections also having reinforcing members adjacent the vertical rows of coupling members and additional reinforcing members adjacent the horizontal rows of coupling members near the tops, and further reinforcing members adjacent the horizontal rows of coupling members near the bottoms.

2. The floating dry dock according to claim 1, wherein the first-named reinforcing members comprise plates affixed adjacent the inboard and outboard faces of said walls, and the remaining reinforcing members comprise pairs of plates, one adjacent the inner end of each row of coupling members near the bottom and the other adjacent the opposite end, of said row on the outside of said section along the chine thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,338,246 Nacey Apr. 27, 1920 1,810,310 Esmond June 16, 1931 2,055,369 Warren Sept. 22, 1936 2,379,904 Harris July 10, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS 13,592 Great Britain Oct. 14, 1884 

